Serving Mimosas to a large group – friends at the lake, guests at a Bridal brunch or a Mother’s Day luncheon? No need to break the bank when you are mixing sparkling wine with orange juice. Here are some of my favorite mimosa mixing sparkling wines for less than $20 a bottle – some even close to $10 a bottle. You can find these sparkling wines at the grocery – look around at different stores – you may find them on sale.
I’ve noticed that Ina Garten serves mimosas made with Veuve Clicquot. I prefer to drink Veuve Clicquot on it’s own to pick up the nuances in the flavor of this lovely and a bit pricey champange. However, if she were to invite me to her East Hampton home to enjoy a Veuve Clicquot mimosa, I certainly would not turn her down.
Mionetto Prosecco – brut or rosé. The rosé will add a pretty little blush color to your mimosas. Light and fresh with aromas of golden apple, honey and white peach. Regular price $27, I found it on sale for $15 a bottle.
Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava. The least expensive of my choices for serving mimosas to a large crowd. This cava is more suited to a casual get together such as a weekend at the lake. Uncomplicated with flavors of apple. The bubbles are not long lasting, but will suffice when drinking lots of mimosas on a beautiful sunny day.
Regularly $14 a bottle, I found this cava on sale for $10.50 a bottle. At that price, a case or two to take to the lake makes sense.
Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava. Notes of apple, pear and a touch of ginger. Regularly $21 a bottle, I found this cava on sale for $13 a bottle.
Some tips on making mimosas. I pour the sparkling wine in the flute before I pour in the orange juice. That way you don’t drink all of the sparkling wine before you get to the orange juice. It’s fun to make orange juice ice cubes too – pour orange juice (freshly squeezed juice is a special treat) into ice cube molds and freeze (add a slice of strawberry or a raspberry to each cube to be extra fancy). The juice ice cubes won’t dilute your mimosa as it melts. Garnishes make your mimosas special – garnish your mimosas with fresh raspberries or strawberries. Have fun with different juices in your mimosas – blood orange juice makes a pretty and tasty mimosa. Add a little Chambord to your mimosas to give them a bit of raspberry flavor (and garnish with a fresh raspberry). Cheers!
